STEEMCHURCH:Jesus, what do you say: Should we Kill our enemies?
Should we kill our enemies? A lot will say YES, a lot will also say NO until they are faced with so much hardship caused my someone, why a lot will also say God knows best.
As we have seen yesterday, the best way to know the right answer is to see what Jesus said concerning this and also how it was addressed in the epistles.
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Firstly, to live without having enemies in this world is a seemly impossible task, whether unknowingly or not, someone somewhere is not really happy with us and might wish us bad, but what should be our responses? Even especially when it comes to a matter of death and life.
Jesus instructed us this way:
Luke 6:27-28 NLT
"But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.
[28] Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
In fact we see him living according to this throughout his life on earth,
There was not a verse where he cursed his enemies, neither a place where he strikes them down
Jesus had enemies, we read in Luke 9:51-56 how he calmed his zealous disciples and made known that he doesn't kill but saves.
He was beaten, crucified, judged by mortals, he could have done things with a blink of an eyes but that's not the kingdom way.
In the epistles, Paul has this to say:
Romans 12:14 NLT
Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.
Just like what Jesus has commanded. Paul suffered a lot, also all the disciples, throughout history, it has been persecution upon persecution, but one thing remain constant, We don't reply with evil, neither do we strike them down. We still pray for them because God wants them to be saved, he has eternally bounded himself with the covenant of salvation, that all men must be saved, no matter who or the deed and we can't be different.
And no matter how fierce things is, our reactions won't be according to sentiment or emotions, it is painful, but that's the kingdom way, reacting with love, no matter what and we must pray from strength to love much and keep loving and also to be delivered of persecutions one day it will be all be over, so till then, we will keep loving.
(Romans 12:19-21 NIV) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. {20} On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." {21} Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Proverbs 24:17-18 NIV) Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, {18} or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.